QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Unable to get the goal that could make the difference in regulation or get the extra point in overtime, the Rimouski Oceanic won 4- 3 in a shootout over Quebec in front of 10,825 fans in le Colisee Pepsi.
Alexandre Mallet – Photo by Serge Poulin
Being perfect against Frederick Roy, Alexandre Contois and Martin Lefebvre, the Oceanic netminder watched as his teammate, Alexandre Mallet, made the difference in forcing Louis Domingue to make the first move before putting the puck behind him to end the suspense.
Domingue stoned Jerome Gauthier-Leduc and Alex Belzile earlier in the shootout.
“The fans got their money’s worth tonight,” said Rimouski Oceanic head coach, Serge Beausoleil after his team won. “What a game, we were very nervous to begin the game, but we have had some guys on the blue line who get back in their game even if they made some mistakes in the beginning. Our goaltender was very solid giving us some chance to get the win.”
Key players were missing on both sides due to the World Junior Championship. Mikhail Grigorenko, Anthony Duclair for Quebec and Petr Straka and Jakub Culek for Rimouski did not play for their respective team.
Rimouski came in Quebec with 10 players for whom it was their first year in the QMJHL.
Rimouski second goal by Pier-Luc Pelletier Photo by Serge Poulin
A turnover in the Quebec defensive zone led to Rimouski first goal scored by Peter Trainor on a backhand shot at 9:00.
The visitors came back 33 seconds later when Oceanic defenseman Pier-Luc Pelletier’s shot deflected off a Quebec player before going in.
Twenty-six seconds later Raphael Corriveau with his fourth of the year put the puck behind Jacob Gervais-Chouinard to cut the Remparts deficit to 2-1.
Trailing by one Quebec got the chance to play with a man advantage following a penalty to Rimouski center Trainor for delay of game. Rookie forward Adam Erne completed a perfect tic-tac-toe play tying the game 2-2 at 18:46.
The Remparts took the lead for first time in the game on a turnover. Stealing the puck from Oceanic defenseman Etienne Boutet, Contois made a great move beating Rimouski netminder between his pads at 6:16.
Rimouski goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard – photo by Serge Poulin
Rimouski replied 15 seconds later tying the game at 3. A pass from Oceanic defenseman Ryan MacKinnon in his defensive zone to Alex Belzile in Quebec territory led to Oceanic third goal. The Rimouski right winger beat Domingue on a breakaway with a backhanded shot between the pads for his thirteen of the regular season.
“I’m satisfied, I think we will win more games than we will lose if we continue to play the way we did tonight,” said the Quebec head coach Patrick Roy in his post game press conference. “Offensively we for check a lot, we played good defensively we just have been unlucky on two of the three goals, I didn’t have anything to say against our team tonight.”
“We won’t look for any excuses,” Roy added. “It was our team on the ice tonight I was comfortable with, sure I would like to be able to count on Grigorenko, Duclair and Barnard (injured). But it was the same thing on the other side.”
Raphael Corriveau – photo by Serge Poulin
Quebec will play next game on the road this Friday against the same Oceanic but in Rimouski.
Five other games were on schedule in QMJHL on Tuesday
Prince Edward Island 4 vs. Halifax 6
Victoriaville 9 vs. Drummondville 3
Blaiville-Boisbriand 2 vs. Shawinigan 4
Chicoutimi 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 2
Val-d’Or 8 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 3
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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